A/N: I'm so happy that so many of you are excited for a sequel and joining me on this bumpy ride for our two soulmates. Now on this Mother's Day, I think we should dig into the feelings of our favorite redhead and her life as a mum of two little rascals. Please let me know what you think of today's cliffhanger!

Maybe This Time

Chapter 2

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Two old sweethearts who fell apart

Somewhere a long ago

How are they to know

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Donna had just tucked her girls in when her phone started ringing. She accepted the facetime call while walking downstairs.

"Rach, it's been a while."

Since meeting in New York they had exchanged the perfunctory Christmas and new year's texts and Donna had sent some pictures of the kids to which Rachel had responded with lots of heart emoji's but no in-depth conversations had been shared.

The brunette looked a bit uncomfortable. "Sorry, I know you had a lot of stuff to figure out but I wasn't sure I was the person you wanted to figure it out with."

"Because your loyalty lies with Harvey now." It wasn't so much a question as just a mere statement of facts.

"Donna, that's not true."

Donna shook her head. "Really, I get it. He's there, I'm not."

"Donna, this isn't about picking a side. You are still my best friend. But you left. And Harvey is Mike's best friend and he fell apart. We had to pick up the pieces and it was ugly."

Donna looked away and whispered, "I know."

"You didn't want to talk about anything. You packed up your life, didn't tell me about it, and expected me to just accept that, without even so much as allowing me to discuss it." Five years later the hurt still shone through in Rachel's voice.

Donna hunched up her shoulders and swallowed a lump. "I was afraid. Afraid you'd talk me out of it. Afraid I wouldn't be strong enough if you'd tell me how Harvey was doing. I finally chose myself over him."

"I don't agree with the way you did it and I don't like the consequences but I understand why you needed to do this. You needed to find yourself without Harvey. Do something for yourself instead of him."

Donna let out a hollow laugh. "That was the plan."

When Rachel raised her eyebrows in confusion, she elaborated. "Turns out running away isn't the same thing as dealing with it."

"No it's not," her friend replied softly.

"There is an actual chance that Harvey has dealt with his emotions better than I have. Imagine that." Donna shook her head in disbelief.

"That didn't happen overnight. He worked hard on that. He still needs Dr. Lipschitz sometimes to help him channel all his emotions correctly."

Donna narrowed her eyes. "Is this your subtle way of telling me Harvey is seeing a therapist since running into me?"

"Not since running into you, no…" Rachel's voice trailed off.

"Since New Years then."

Rachel's red cheeks gave her away before she could nod. "He has been so happy since Christmas. But after New Years-"

"He turned into a nightmare for the people around him?" Donna guessed.

"Donna," Rachel said exasperated. "He's not that man anymore. He still bites when you try to hurt the firm or his family but he doesn't leash out his pent-up emotions on anyone that happens to be in his vicinity."

"Then what did happen?"

"You tell me, girl. Ever since he's spoken to you he's withdrawn. He's refused dinner offers and he looks like he doesn't sleep very well. I noticed private appointments popping up on his calendar again so that must mean-".

"That he's seeing Lipschitz," Donna filled in.

She sighed and marched to her cupboard to pull out a wine glass and bottle of Merlot.

"I give the man panic attacks." She said, pouring herself a generous glass. "Harvey Specter, panic attacks." She took a large gulp. "And you know him better than I do." She pointed her glass at the screen.

"Nonsense"

Donna sipped her glass. "Work five days a week where I'm sure you've been helping him a lot and he's over at your house what, once a week for dinner?"

Rachel blushed. "Twice. Tuesdays and Fridays."

Donna grunted and gave her a look. "See. I wouldn't be surprised if you told me he stays over too," she added mockingly.

Silence ensued and her eyes grew wide.

"Oh my god. He actually does, doesn't he?" She ran her hand over her face, massaging her forehead with her fingertips.

Her friend flinched a bit at her reaction.

"Sometimes on Fridays it gets late. Once Mike and Harvey start pouring Scotch engaging in a movie quote off you know how it goes." Rachel elaborated to hide her discomfort.

"No. No, I don't actually." Donna downed the remainder of her glass. "That's the part where he kept me at arm's length." She placed the glass down with a loud thud. "I should go."

"Donna." Rachel looked worried. "Don't do this. Don't get mad at us for continuing with our lives and shut us out again."

Donna's thumb was hovering over the end call button. She knew she was being unreasonable but it had hit her right in the gut. She wanted to be this close to Harvey for years. And now they had that. And she and her girls wouldn't fit in.

She didn't push the button and whispered "I didn't shut you out" instead.

The brunette sighed. "You kinda did. You shared your life, sure. But we couldn't mention Harvey, you didn't visit so there has been a whole life going on here that you were not a part of."

Donna closed her eyes to push back the brimming tears. "You think I don't know how much I've missed?" Her voice breaking. "I was just protecting myself. You see what happens if I'm near him." She wiped away an escaped tear from her cheek. "I'm a blubbering mess."

"Donna, forget the past. Let's look forward. After Christmas Harvey told us there is an opening for a future with you. But seeing as his behavior has changed recently, I'm guessing you changed your mind?"

Donna repositioned, tucking her legs underneath her. Stalling time. "Not changing my mind persé." She ran a hand through her red locks. "It's just a lot okay. Harvey started talking about selling the house and it's the place where the girls set their first steps and height measurements are on the doorpost and birthdays and I might not be there for every birthday or holiday and—"

"Breath," her friend coached her from her side of the screen.

Donna took a deep breath and whispered "I'm not sure me and my girls will fit in your lives."

Rachel looked shocked. "Of course you will."

But Donna shook her head. "Look at me." She pointed at her makeup-less face and tugged at her oversized sweater. "This is me now."

Rachel cocked her head. The unspoken is it really? hanging in the air. "You can be both you know. Donna, the mum, and Donna having a career. They are not mutually exclusive."

On that note, they said their goodbyes and vowed to speak soon.

….

Donna quietly tiptoed into her garage. The door had squeaked and Ella is a light sleeper but so far the house was covered in silence.

She went to the darkest corner of the room, pulling away a blanket, to reveal several stacks of plastic crates.

She had left a lot behind. Feeling the need to start fresh. But some items were too close to her heart to get rid of. She had not looked at them once in five years. Prompting Jack to suggest throwing it out on several occasions. She had been adamant and refused every time.

The first crate she opened revealed a blue dress. There was no need to pull it out to know this is the lace keyhole long sleeve dress by Robert Cavalli. She dropped to her knees, running her hand over the soft fabric. Underneath the atria wool dress by Roland Mouret, tweed dress by Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci off the shoulder, Valentino, Victoria Beckham.

The next crate held Burberry trench coats, Oscar de la Renta gowns. There was a crate full of Louboutins, Jimmy Choo's, and Francesco Russo. Pulling a pair out, she caressed the shiny exterior. There was no way they would stay shiny with her girls around. Aubrey was happiest in the vicinity of trees, sand, mud. Ella was more of a tutu girl but there were always cups of lemonade to be knocked over the kitchen table, glue, paint, glitters spilling off the crafts table. She was permanently running around after her girls with dishcloths and washcloths.

She did give most of her handbags away. Except for the one, she bought with her first bonus. Her Gucci patent leather dome satchel bag. She still used it from time to time and her husband's eyes had nearly popped out of their sockets when she revealed the price tag. He had no clue he had suggested throwing out crates worth thousands of dollars at every garage clean-up.

Popping the lid of a new crate, disclosed one other handbag though. The only one she kept beside her Gucci satchel bag. A limited-edition Hermes Birkin bag.

She rubbed her thumb over the gorgeous leather pattern. On instinct, she brought it up to her nose and inhaled the leather scent.

The day it was bought, still vividly clear in her mind. It had been Harvey, who had suggested buying this particular bag. It had been so expensive that she had refused but he had been so intent on making her happy after the murder trial, that he had insisted until she caved.

She didn't keep it for its monetary worth. The emotional value was so much more. This was Harvey's way of saying how much she meant to him.

Underneath the bag were playbills of her theatre productions and tickets for closing night. Harvey always gave them afterward, to put in her 'scrapbook' he'd teasingly say. He always chose to go to her closing night because he knew she'd be emotional and it gave her a distraction. At the same time, she'd be roped into a party at some bar by her fellow cast members, giving him an excuse not to be alone with her and head home.

She sighed. Harvey always playing it safe. Not trusting himself to be alone with her non-work related. Not trusting himself to be the good man she saw all along.

When she lifted the handbag, it felt heavy. Instead of the playbills, her attention shifted to the inside of the bag. Something wrapped in tissue paper. When taking the item out of the bag, she felt the shape of a coffee mug and she remembered.

Her eyes started brimming with tears before she even saw it. Carefully she unwrapped the fish mug. It had survived the long haul to the west coast and her heart skipped a beat holding it in one piece.

It was an ordinary coffee mug. She distinctly remembers unwrapping it the first time. She hadn't been working for Harvey very long when her birthday came around.

Cameron had dragged him off to court before she could open it and it had been the best thing that could've happened for their friendship. Because her face had fallen when seeing the mug. Who the hell gifts a mug? And the fish?

"Donna?" Jack's voice boomed.

She scrambled to her feet, wiping her eyes.

"Jack, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see the girls. See how you are." He approached her but when reaching out to touch her she ducked down to pack away everything she had just uncovered.

"What's this?" He gestured around the garage to all the scattered boxes.

"Nothing, just a trip down memory lane." Donna put lids on all the boxes as quickly as she could.

"It looks like—" Jack's sentence was cut short by the doorbell.

Donna left the garage, making her way to the front door with Jack in tow. She sighed as she swung open the door, then let out a big gasp.

"Harvey?"